The former KZN-based Arumugam sealed the deal on a massive R1 545 890 Pick 6 payout on Charity Mile Day at Turffontein on Saturday when he scraped home under another exemplary ride by young Kaidan Brewer to win the R175 000 Gauteng Summer Cup 26 November Listed Java Stakes.
It’s close but Kaidan Brewer has done enough to get Arumugam (10) home (Pic – JC Photos)
The 19 year old Brewer had earlier registered a career first Gr3 success when booting Grant Maroun’s Anfields Rocket home in the Graham Beck Stakes. He thus rounded off a memorable day with a feature double, care of the previously largely polytrack-exposed Arumugam.
“Horses were meant to run on grass,” quipped the winner’s new trainer Weiho Marwing, who has only had the former Peter Muscutt-trained gelding for a month.
“Owner-breeder Steve Chetty is a good friend of mine. He said there wasn’t much racing opportunity for Arumugam down in Durban. We knew he stays well, so we thought we could take a chance on the Highveld. We got lucky first up,” added Marwing.
In a grandstand finish in the 2400m event, the race changed complexion dramatically after the pacesetting favourite Light Of The Moon folded, and the consistent Black Thorn pulled out 350m out.
That left Jaimala looking dangerous down the inside, until Brewer pressed the launch button on Arumugam.
The son of Duke Of Marmalade took off at 20-1 to hold Raiseahallelujah (5-1) by a nose, with Jaimala (7-1) another short head back in third. The 20-1 Motown Magic completed the quartet, with under a length covering the top four home.
The winner’s time was 154,25 secs.
Watch the replay:
Bred by Steven Chetty, the winner is a son of the late Danehill stallion Duke Of Marmalade out of the thrice winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Freudiana. A winner of 3 races with 13 places from his 18 starts, Arumugam has earned R341 375.
Arumugam was a first black-type winner backed at Grace Stables.
